JE#1A

What Does Speedy Gonzalez Mean To YOU? How did the material you found here alter your opinion of Speedy?

Speedy Gonzalez in all honesty does not mean much to me. As an immigrant to this side of the border I crossed and was immediately resentful of the negative images of Mexicans in the U.S. When i moved to the city of Gardena in Southern California, I was exposed to Speedy and right away noticed the stereotypical attire, the big hat and the "Arriba, Arriba!" What was then scorn turned into genuine wonder. It wasn't until later in my early undergraduate years that I began to conduct my very own "autopsy" of the charming rat. In his own way, I believe that Speedy is and was a very subversive image/representation of Mexicans in the U.S. However, I am very critical of how Speedy has affected the hearts and minds of American audiences for decades. Speedy is still the image many choose to emulate when racist Halloween costumes are sold in stores every year, the myth of the “lazy Mexican” was after all slowpoke Rigoberto, which was aired in Speedy’s world. I am still very conflicted about him and hope that during discussion you all can shed some light on my thoughts.